After the crushing loss to the Lakers in the NBA Finals, coach Doc Rivers almost didn't return this season because he wanted to spend more time with his family. He came back for one year but many have speculated whether this could be his last go-around with Boston. Not according to CSNNE.com's A. Sherrod Blakely:

"You'd be hard-pressed to find any one with ties to the NBA that is looking forward to this summer, and a potential lockout on the horizon.

For the Boston Celtics, a delay in the start of the season might actually work to their advantage in retaining a prized free agent - head coach Doc Rivers.

Rivers, whose contract expires at the end of this season, has made no secret about wanting to spend more time with his family.

If there is a lockout and the season is delayed, that may very well be enough to allow Rivers to spend additional time with his family, and still return as the Celtics' head coach.

Blakely reports that Ainge and Doc have had multiple talks throughout the season on a new contract. However, he writes that Ainge also has said that Doc wants to put off dealing with his contract situation until the season has come to a close.

"Doc knows how I feel," Ainge told Blakley. "I'm doing all I can to keep Doc around for as long as possible."

Blakely makes a good point about the lockout. It might be a good thing in that sense from a Celtics perspective. It'd allow Doc to get a break from the NBA and spend time with his family. Of course that's not to say Celtics fans should start rooting for a work stoppage. It certainly wouldn't be a very good thing for this aging Celtics team with father time breathing down their neck.